West Bengal: CJP demands action as volunteer’s father beaten to death by ‘local BJP workers’

The Cockroach Janta Party on Sunday demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the alleged assault that led to the death of Janab Mafik, the father of its West Bengal-based volunteer Shaik Abdul Hafeez.

25-year-old Shaik Hafeez was allegedly attacked after inspecting a government school as part of the CJP's "School Thik Karo" campaign. The assault took place following a home intrusion, and Mafik died on Saturday from severe head injuries sustained during the alleged assault.

Hafeez alleged in a video recorded from the hospital that a schoolteacher had informed political workers about his civic inspection, which prompted the subsequent attack. The alleged assailants demanded that Hafeez record a video apologising for highlighting the condition of the school and claiming that he had done so under external influence, the CJP said.

The incident took place in the Karisunda area of Bankura district after Hafeez participated in the nationwide "School Thik Karo" Abhiyan at the local government school in his village on August 13 to assess the condition of its infrastructure, it said. The CJP alleged that armed individuals identified as local BJP workers forcibly entered Hafeez's residence later that evening.

"When Hafeez refused to comply, the individuals allegedly launched a violent assault on his family," news agency PTI quoted a CJP statement as saying. Hafeez suffered a severe neck injury in the attack while his father sustained critical blunt-force trauma to the head, the statement added.

Following the assault, Hafeez recorded a video from the hospital documenting his injuries and was subsequently forced to flee to Kolkata due to continuing safety concerns, the CJP said. Janab Mafik passed away on August 15.

CJP founder and national convener Abhijeet Dipke said, "We will not be silenced and intimidated. We will keep fighting for better schools. CJP stands firmly with Abdul and his family. We demand the immediate arrest of those responsible for his father's death. Our CJP team will visit West Bengal and ensure that Abdul and his family get justice."

Dipke launched the "School Thik Karo" campaign to highlight the condition of government schools and push for improvements in school infrastructure and education. As part of the campaign, citizens have been encouraged to visit government schools, assess their condition, and bring deficiencies to public attention.

Reacting to the incident, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said, "We are very concerned for Abdul. His father has died at the hands of goons who allegedly belong to the BJP. What was his crime? That he planned on conducting a social audit of his local government school. Abdul, the entire CJP family is with you. We will not rest until those goons are brought to justice! @WBPolice, do your job immediately."

A CJP National Working Committee delegation, led by co-convener Ashutosh Ranka, will visit West Bengal to stand in solidarity with Hafeez and his family and to demand justice and accountability, according to the statement.